US Army quietly discharging immigrant recruits
Some recruits say they were given no reason for their discharge. Others said the Army informed them they’d been labeled as security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defense Department had not completed background checks on them.
The Pentagon said Friday that there has been no policy change since last year, when Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said no canada goose outlet jackets one could enter basic training without completion of a background canada goose coats on sale investigation.
“Each recruit undergoes an individualized suitability review and the length of time for the review is dependent upon each individual’s unique background,” Smith said.
Zhao, canada goose uk black friday canada goose outlet 31, Canada Goose Jackets said his “ship out” date to basic training was delayed for two years as he underwent background checks, counterintelligence interviews and rigorous canada goose outlet online reviews added as requirements for immigrant enlistees.
He continued to pursue his PhD in geography at Texas A but also hit the gym, prepping for boot camp. And he trained in uniform with his unit. He had military identification and health care, he said.
That same month, he got word from his unit commander: He was being cheap canada goose discharged. He was told simply that his discharge was “uncharacterized,” he said.
“I’m canada goose outlet uk not a national threat,” Zhao said. Army. I’m a good scientist no matter what.”
To become citizens, official canada goose outlet immigrant recruits are required to have served honorably for 180 days. But the recently discharged members have had uk canada goose their basic training delayed, so they can’t be naturalized.
Immigration attorneys told the AP that many immigrants let go in recent weeks received an “uncharacterized discharge,” which is neither dishonorable nor honorable.
President George W. Bush Canada Goose Parka ordered “expedited naturalization” for immigrant soldiers in 2002 in canada goose outlet in usa an effort to swell military ranks. Seven years canada goose black friday sale later, the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, known as MAVNI, became an official recruiting program. illegally to the list of eligible enlistees. In response, the military layered on additional security clearances for recruits to pass before heading to boot camp.
Donald Trump’s administration added even buy canada goose jacket cheap more hurdles, creating a backlog within the Defense Department. Last uk canada goose outlet fall, hundreds of recruits still in the enlistment process had their contracts canceled. canada goose jacket https://www.fcvfrankfurt.de outlet A few months canada goose factory outlet later, the military suspended MAVNI.
“Our military must prioritize enlisting American citizens, and restore the MAVNI program to its specialized, limited scope,” he said.
According to canada goose outlet parka Air canada goose outlet nyc Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, the “overwhelming majority” of MAVNI candidates are from Asia and Africa because those are the critical language skills needed in the military.
As of April, 1,100 immigrant recruits were awaiting basic training while undergoing security reviews, the Pentagon said. More than 5,000 immigrants were recruited into the program in 2016, and an estimated 10,000 are currently serving. Most go the Army, but some also go to canada goose clearance sale the other military branches.
Zhao is now rethinking his future, but said he wishes he had a chance to appeal.
“I need justice,” he said. “This is America. This is not China. This is not the Middle East. This is not a dictatorship.
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